Caught in the storm
Caught in the rain
Caught in the rush that hides this pain

("Caught in the Storm," Smash)

Chapter 13: Fever Dreams

I pressed my hand to Rachel's forehead and frowned. She seemed hot and she was wheezing as she slept fitfully in her crib. "Robin, can you get me the thermometer please?"

"Sure," he called out from the bathroom. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I am. Rachel's not."

As I waited for him, I turned to Emma when she began coughing. Her cheeks were red and she was glassy-eyed. I sighed. "Emma's not either."

Robin entered the room, handing me the thermometer with a frown. "Both girls are down for the count?"

"Looks like it. Can you help me lay Emma down and get her onesie off?" I pulled out the Vaseline, dipping the thermometer into it.

Emma seemed to know what was coming and she fought Robin, squirming on the changing table. "No!" she yelled.

"I need you to stay still, Emma," he pleaded, trying to hold her down. "Mama needs to take your temperature."

"NO!" She disappeared in a cloud of white smoke and landed back in her crib, pouting. "No."

I shoved the thermometer back at Robin and approached her, leaning over the railing. "Emma, do you want to feel better?"

"NO!" She pushed my hands away. No stick. Stick feel weird.

"I know the stick feels weird, but I need to see if you have a fever. That way I can make you better."

Mama promise?

I nodded. "Mama promises."

Emma stilled, letting me pick her up again. I laid her on the changing table and stripped off her onesies as well as removed her diaper. Holding out my hand to Robin, I said: "Thermometer."

He placed it in my hand and placed it in, waiting for it to read Emma's temperature. She began to whimper and Robin stroked her curls. "You're doing great, Princess. I'm proud of you."

"Papa," she whimpered, sniffling.

"I'm right here, Princess," he replied, smiling. "I'm not going anywhere."

The thermometer beeped a few times and I removed it, frowning at the reading. "She has a fever."

"My poor princess," Robin said, redressing her. "Do you need help with Rachel?"

I glanced over at our sleeping daughter and shook my head. "I think I'll be fine with her. You focus on Emma."

He nodded and I easily got a sleeping Rachel out of her onesie and diaper. After washing the thermometer and dipping it back in the Vaseline, I took her temperature. When it beeped, I realized she had the same temperature as Emma. "They both have fevers," I announced.

"Wonderful," he replied, bouncing Emma as she rested against his shoulder. "What do you want to do?"

I rubbed Rachel's stomach as she slept on, hearing how congested she was as she struggled to breathe through her little nostrils. "I guess some children's Tylenol to bring down their fever and I'll run out in the morning to get something to help with the congestion."

"Maybe you should get something now," he suggested as Emma's small frame was racked by coughs. "Or I can go."

Emma leaned toward me, her eyes glassy as tears fell down her cheeks. She reached out to me. "Mama."

I took her from Robin, feeling her overheated body as she placed all her weight against me and rested her head on my shoulder. Rubbing her back, I looked at him. "It's probably best if you go. You know what you're looking for?"

He nodded. "I remember from when Roland was sick. I promise I'll be right back."

"Don't worry," I said. "We're not going anywhere."

Robin gave me a quick kiss before kissing Emma's head. "I'll be back with something to make you feel better, Princess. Okay?"

"Papa," she whimpered before couching, some spittle landing on my neck.

I tried not to wince. "Hurry back."

He slipped out of the room and I carried Emma over to the rocking chair. I magicked her baby blanket to me, wrapping her in it. "Why don't we just rock here for a bit?"

Mama make Emma feel better?

"Once Papa returns with the medicine," I assured her. "It won't be long now."

Mama sing to Emma?

"I don't think that'll make you feel better. Why don't you wait and Papa will sing to you?" I suggested.

Emma want Mama to sing. Mama sing!

"We've talked about you being bossy, Emma."

Emma sick. She punctuated that with several wet, mucusy coughs and I melted, rubbing her back.

I sighed. "Okay, sweetheart. I'll sing for you. You won't like it, but I'll sing."

Love Mama. She patted my shoulder and closed her eyes as I started to sing a lullaby to her.

As I sang to her, I kept an eye on Rachel's crib. She was coughing as well and I saw her start to squirm before she disappeared in a puff of white smoke. I prepared myself and caught her as she landed in my arms. Hot, Mama.

"I know, sweetheart." I was starting to sweat from holding both hers and Emma's feverish bodies close to me. "Papa's gone to get something to help."

Want help now, Mama, Rachel pleaded.

Emma too, Emma agreed.

I nodded before calling out for Roland. He appeared in the doorway, Bandit at his feet. "What's wrong, Mama?" he asked.

"Can you do me a favor?" I asked.

"Sure," he replied. "What?"

"Can you get two facecloths and run them over cool, not cold, water? Your sisters have fevers and I think it will help."

He nodded. "I'll be right back, Mama."

"Do you hear that?" I asked the girls. "Your brother will bring something cool for you."

Roland good, Rachel said. Rachel like him.

Emma like Roland too.

Their favorite person returned, a damp facecloth in each hand. I smiled at him. "Can you fold them up and put them on your sister's foreheads for me? I don't have any hands to spare."

Roland nodded and did as I instructed. He then kissed their heads. "Feel better," he said and my heart melted.

"Thank you, sweetheart." I leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "I'll be in to tuck you in once your father gets back."

"It's okay, Mama," he said. "I can tuck myself in tonight if it's easier."

I shook my head. "Once your father gets back, I'll be able to focus on you. Don't worry about it being easier or not. Okay?"

Roland grinned. "Okay, Mama. I'm going to read now, though."

He left, but the dog stayed. Bandit laid down at my feet, looking up at the girls with sad eyes. I smiled down at him. "Don't worry, boy. They'll feel better soon."

Bandit whined and stayed by me, even as we heard the door open and close. Robin bounded up the stairs, not bothering to shed his coat. He clutched a white paper bag. "Okay, I picked up something that should help them."

"That's good," I said. "Which daughter do you want?"

NO! Both girls shouted so loud into my head, I know my eyes grew wide as I almost hit my head on the back of the chair.

Robin frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"The girls don't want to let me go," I explained before looking down at them. Both their eyes were closed but I knew they weren't asleep. "I need a hand to give you medicine. So I need Papa to hold one of you."

He shook his head. "I think we can handle this without you letting them go. I'll give them the medicine and you hold them."

"Okay." I adjusted Rachel as Robin opened the medicine. He used the stopper to fill up the right dosage and approached our youngest.

Crouching down, he smiled. "Can you open up for me, sweetheart? Just so I can get the medicine in your mouth?"

Rachel pulled away from my shoulder and opened her mouth, letting Robin squeeze the medicine into her mouth. She swallowed before making a face. Yucky, Mama.

"I know, but it's going to make you feel better," I told her. I then turned to Emma. "Okay, your turn. Open up for Papa."

She opened her mouth but refused to lift her head. Robin and I had to maneuver a bit but we were able to get the medicine in. She shook as she swallowed before her little hand clutched onto my shirt.

Robin set the medicine bottle down. "Do you think it'll work?"

"Of course it will," I replied. "Go take off your jacket. We're not going anywhere."

He nodded, looking down at Bandit. "You coming, boy?"

Bandit glanced at him before sighing, turning his head back toward me. I shook my head. "He won't leave the girls."

"He's a good dog," Robin said with a smile before heading out of the room.

I continued to rock the girls. "Are you two feeling better?"

Rachel didn't respond and I could tell she had fallen asleep. Emma rubbed her eyes before responding. Tired, Mama.

"Then why don't you close your eyes and try to get some sleep? You'll feel better when you're rested," I told her.

Okay, Mama. Will Mama sing again?

"How about Papa sings while I put Rachel to bed?"

"Papa," she murmured and I figured it was an acceptance of my idea. I handed her to Robin once he returned and he began singing softly to her, swaying the entire time.

I laid Rachel down, covering her with a blanket. Pressing a kiss to my fingers, I pressed them to her forehead. "Good night, sweetheart."

Robin laid Emma down in her crib, placing Princess bear next to her as Emma continued to wheeze. He grimaced. "I wish her breathing was better."

"Me too," I replied, joining him. "But the medicine you got should be able to clear her up. Hopefully it passes quickly."

He nodded. "I'm going to get that machine that turned water into smoke…"

"The humidifier?" I supplied. When he nodded again, I smiled. "That should help them. While you do that, I'm going to put Roland to bed."

"Okay. I'm going to stay in here with the girls for a while, so don't be surprised if I'm not in bed," he said.

I nodded. "I'll come relieve you in a few hours, then. You can't spend all night in the rocker."

"I don't mind," he said, not even bothering to deny that was what he planned to do.

"I know, but your back might. Besides, they may want me. Emma can be bossy on a good day and Rachel is a Mills' girl…"

He nodded. "Alright. I'll switch with you, but only for a few hours. You shouldn't sit in the rocker for too long either."

I conceded that before heading over to Roland's room, ready to put my son to bed and then keep vigil over my daughters.

When my alarm went off, my throat felt itchy and my limbs felt like lead. I tried to take a deep breath but found my nostrils were clogged, causing me to let out a cough. Grabbing a tissue, I blew my nose to try and clear it but it didn't work. Shuffling into the bathroom, I grabbed the thermometer and jammed it under my tongue.

"Regina? Are you in here?" Robin wandered into the bathroom, frowning when he saw me. "Are you sick?"

I shrugged as the thermometer beeped. He took it from my mouth and his frown deepened. "You have a fever. You're going back to bed."

Coughing, I nodded. I had absolutely no energy to argue, which just proved to me I needed to go to bed. "Can you just give me some medicine, please? My head feels like someone is pouring concrete into it."

"Of course. Go lie down and I'll get you everything you need," he said, giving me a gentle push toward our room.

I climbed back into our bed, wrapping myself in the blankets as chills racked my body. Another coughing jag hit me and I pressed a tissue to my mouth. This was the worst possible time for me to get sick, with my daughters ill and Zelena running amok in Storybrooke.

"I have some medicine but I'm going to have to back out to the store tomorrow to pick you up some more," Robin said, handing me a little plastic cup filled with a thick purple liquid. I downed it, cringing at the awful flavor that was trying to pass as grape.

Robin placed a cool, damp facecloth on my forehead. "Get some rest, lovely. I'll sleep in the girls' room."

I nodded. "Take good care of them."

"I will," he promised me, pushing my hair away from my neck. "And I'll take good care of you."

He continued to run his fingers through my hair, humming softly as I drifted off to a medicinally aided slumber.

I rolled over, feeling even worse than I did when I went to bed. Breathing was still a struggle and I felt grimy. Every bone in my body hurt and my eyes felt heavy. Part of me just wanted to go back to sleep but the other part was too miserable to do that.

A plume of white smoke caught my attention and I found Rachel curled up next to me. Rachel want Mama.

"Mama is just as sick as you," I told her, though I wrapped my arm around her. I cuddled her close to me, letting her rest on my breasts.

Rachel stay with Mama. She started to cough, struggling to breathe through her nose. Mama make Rachel feel better.

I rubbed her back. "I can't make you better until I feel better. We're both going to have to rely on Papa now."

Rachel stay?

"Yes," I said. "Rachel can stay. You and Mama can snuggle."

She let out a little sigh, squirming up until her little face was pressed against my neck. As she settled down, Robin came into the room. He held Emma in his arms and he sighed when he saw me with Rachel. "I thought this is where she came."

"Yes," I said. "She wants me."

He shifted Emma in his arms. "Are you okay with her staying here?"

I nodded. "Can you just get me some more medicine? Once you put Emma down?"

"She won't let me put her down," he said. "She's been stuck to me since waking up a few hours ago."

"Papa," Emma whined in response before coughing. She let out a little whimper and he rubbed her back, hushing her.

I sighed. "Being sick sucks."

Rachel agree.

"Okay, two of the three Mills' girls think being sick sucks," I said. "But I have a feeling the third does too."

He glanced down at Emma and shrugged. "Probably. Unfortunately, you're the one who can read minds."

"Well, call Barb or Karen. I'm sure they'll be happy to come over and help you if you need some extra hands," I said, feeling my eyes close. "Where's Roland?"

"I already sent him off to school. I have half a mind to send him home with Pinocchio to keep him from getting this as well."

"That sounds like a good plan." I nestled against my pillows again. "Can you wake me when the cold is done?"

He chuckled and I heard him coming closer. "I'm afraid it doesn't work like that. But I am going to attempt to get you more medicine one-handed. Just sit tight."

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere," I murmured, holding Rachel closer. She continued to wheeze but was drifting back to sleep as well.

"Okay, Regina, I have some medicine for you. Open up," he said. I opened my mouth without opening my eyes and he tipped the liquid into it. He chuckled. "I hope that helps."

"You and me both."

He pulled the blanket over me and Rachel before kissing my forehead. "I'll be back in a little bit. I'm going to wrestle some breakfast into Emma. When I come back, I'm going to wrestle some breakfast into you too."

I barely heard him leave the room before I drifted off to sleep, rubbing Rachel's back the entire time.

The strangest dreams always plague us when we're sick, I've found. I wonder if it's the fever or something else working in our subconscious.

I found myself back in the rooms I shared with Robin and Roland in the palace back in the Enchanted Forest. A fire roared in the stone hearth and I saw two drinks set out on our old table, though Robin's liquor cabinet did not appear to be disturbed or missing any glasses. I leaned against the couch, frowning. Why had my mind brought me back here?

Knocking confused me and I approached the door, wondering who was on the other side. When I opened it, the woods greeted me rather than the hallway. I leaned out of the door, frowning. "Who's there?"

"It's me," Zelena said, tripping over a large root. She scowled at me. "What's with the bloody forest?"

I shrugged and she nearly fell into me. "Are you sick? In the wakening world?"

"Yes," I replied, realizing that everything felt clear here. "Is that affecting this world?"

"Of course it is," she snapped, pushing past me to enter the room. She glanced around it. "You and the thief lived here in the palace? My stepdaughter couldn't give you a better room?"

I frowned, closing the door. "This was big enough for the three of us. It was a good home for us."

Zelena rolled her eyes. "Really, Regina. You could've had so much more. You still could have so much. All you have to do is reach out and take it. Why don't you?"

"Because I have everything I want," I replied. "Do you just like to come nitpick my life when you get bored?"

She shrugged. "I didn't know you would be sick or I would've stayed far away from your mind today."

"I doubt you can get sick from invading my dreams. But I'll gladly cough on you, just to test the theory." I gave her a sugary sweet smile.

Zelena recoiled, holding up her hands as if to keep me away as she crinkled her nose in disgust. "Don't you dare."

"Fine. So shall we sit on the couch and chat? Maybe I can offer you a drink, though it would only just be part of the dream."

"Are you always this sarcastic?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied. "But even more so because you're invading my dream when I'm sick and have two sick babies to care for as well. Just leave me alone, Zelena. Please."

Zelena sighed. "Fine. I guess I'll leave you here in the remnants of your not-too-distant past. I still have Charming to deal with."

That jogged my memory and I frowned. "Charming? Or do you really mean Snow?"

She tensed up. "What do you mean by that?"

"We know someone has been intimidating her, trying to keep her away from Charming," I said. "And I'm looking at our prime suspect."

"Why would I care if Charming is stepping out on his wife with the local schoolmarm?" She tried to act nonchalant, but I knew better.

I walked closer to her. "Well, who else could it be?"

"Maybe his wife?"

"Abigail? Or as she's known here, Kathryn?" I shook my head. "She's found Frederick and is fine with Charming living his own life."

Zelena pressed her lips together. "So that means it must be me?"

I nodded. "To keep them from sharing True Love's Kiss."

"True Love's…" She laughed. "Now why would I do if I want the curse to be broken?"

"Because you don't want it broken on them. You want it broken on you so you can go back to the Enchanted Forest without them," I replied.

Zelena's scowl returned. "You don't think that's possible, then?"

"To break it on just you?" I clarified. At her nod, I shook my head. "I think it has to be broken on everyone."

Letting a groan, Zelena nodded. "Fine. Could you hurry up on that, please?"

"Most of my household, including is me, is sick," I reminded her.

"So you can't do some reading while lying in bed?" she asked.

I tilted my head. "Have you ever been sick before, Zelena?"

"No, can't say I have," she replied. "Why?"

"Because then you would know that the only thing you can focus on while sick is how sick you are and what you can do to get better. That and you're sleeping all the time. So no, I can't read while lying in bed."

"Regina? Regina, I need you to wake up." Robin's voice echoed around the room, causing Zelena and me to look up.

I started backing toward the door. "That's probably Robin with my breakfast. I have to go, Zelena. Wish I could stay longer, but that's a lie. Ta!"

"Wait!" Zelena held out her hand, trying to stop me. "We haven't had time to discuss how you might break the curse."

"Well, next time don't take so long insulting me and my family," I told her, giving her a mock salute. "Until then."

She tried to grab me but my old room blinked out of sight, replaced by only darkness. I took a deep breath and waited to wake up.

"Regina?" Robin was gently patting my cheek but I could detect the panic in his tone. "Come on, sweetheart. Wake up."

I opened my eyes and relief spread across his features. He kissed my forehead. "You scared me there for a second."

"Sorry. Zelena was needier than usual. She didn't want to let me go," I said, trying to sit up. Everything felt heavy though and it was a struggle.

He put gentle pressure on my shoulder, keeping me down as he frowned. "She connected with you? Now?"

"Well, she didn't know I was sick until after she connected with me. I really, really hope I can infect someone that way." I leaned back against the pillows, grinning. It would just be too poetic if Zelena got sick from our mind connection.

Robin chuckled. "I hope so too. It would be the least the Queen deserves. But worry about her later. It's time for breakfast."

"What about Rachel?" I glanced around, looking for our daughter. When I didn't see her curled up next to me, I frowned. "Where is she?"

"Sound asleep in her crib, as is Emma. I fed both and now it's your turn." He motioned to the tray next to my bed.

I nodded. "Can I sit up now? It'll be awkward to eat like this."

He sighed. "Fine. I also made you some tea with honey. I hope that helps as well."

"It should," I replied, taking the tray from him. "Thank you so much. You should probably leave now before I infect you too."

"Probably too late for that. So I think I'll just sit here with you and keep you company," he said, reclining next to me.

I laughed before taking a spoonful of oatmeal. "I finally clued Zelena in on the fact I can't break the curse on just her, I'd have to break it on everybody."

"How did she take it?"

"How do you think?" I asked, giving him a look.

Robin nodded. "What else does she want?"

"For me to still break the curse," I replied. "I'm not sure what she's going to do next. I doubt she does either."

"That can be dangerous. We can't then predict what she'll do next," he said, resting his arms behind his head as he frowned.

I ate my oatmeal, thinking the same thing. "You think I shouldn't talk about our efforts to break the curse with her anymore?"

"I think you need to pick and choose what you tell her," he replied. "Don't show all our cards."

"We don't have many yet," I said.

He nodded. "But she doesn't know that."

"Good point." I sighed, leaning back. "Can we continue discussing strategy after I'm done fighting my cold?"

"Of course. You just rest and focus on getting better," he said, leaning closer to me. "That's all I want from you for now. Who cares what Zelena wants?"

I chuckled, leaning my head on his shoulder. "I definitely don't care what she wants. All I care about is our friends."

He kissed more forehead. "I agree. But I think even they can understand that you need to get some sleep."

My eyelids grew heavy as I nodded. I drifted back off to another fever dream I prayed wasn't as strange as my last one.

Emma and I were curled up together on the bed I had shared with Robin back in the palace. I picked her up, holding her close as I frowned. My last visit to my old room hadn't been so pleasant and I was nervous to have Emma with me.

She slept on as I explored the room, feeling the warmth from the fire. I wondered if it was really my fever spiking and decided to move on before things got worse. "Let's go explore outside," I murmured to Emma.

I opened the door, finding the hallway rather than the forest like last time. My feet turned left and took me toward Snow and Charming's room, then past it. I didn't stop until I was standing in what was supposed to be Emma's nursery, her crib sitting in the middle of the room.

"This should be your room, Princess," I said, still rocking her. "You should be toddling around here while your parents chase after you."

"And we should be home in Locksley," Robin said, surprising me. I turned to find him walking toward me, dressed in the same clothes he had been wearing all day.

I frowned. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "I decided to lay down next to you with Emma for a nap and now I'm here. Where exactly is here?"

"My dream world," I told him. "It's usually the palace, though it's also usually in ruins. This is the nicest I've seen it."

"Is the Queen here?" he asked, tensing up. "Does she talk to you here?"

"Sometimes. I don't know if she's here, though."

He nodded before pulling me close. "We should be here. We should all be here, living happily together."

"I know," I said, rubbing Emma's back still. "The Queen ruined everything."

"I ruined everything? Snow and you annoying followers of hers ruined everything!" Zelena's indignant voice echoed around the room as I bit back a moan. Robin stood in front of me as she emerged from the shadows, scowling. "Oh, great, now the thief is here too."

Robin snarled at her. "I have a name, you know."

"Whatever," she said, waving him off. "Why have you brought me here?"

I frowned, pushing Robin aside as I handed Emma to him. "I haven't brought you here. You've brought me here."

Zelena shook her head. "I was just taking a nap before dealing with those whiny townsfolk. I definitely wasn't planning on talking to you."

"Then why are we all here?" Robin asked, rocking Emma as she grew fussy in his arms. "Who is doing this?"

"The hell I know. It's probably the work of the Dark One," Zelena said. "Gods knows why."

I sighed, shaking my head. Despite being as confused as everyone else, I was more annoyed. All I wanted to do was get a restful sleep so I could fight my cold. "Can you end the mind connection? Please. I'd like to only share my dreams with my husband and the Princess."

"Trust me, I would if I could. But I can't. I didn't initiate this mind connection," she replied. "You'll have to end it."

"How do I do that?" I asked, ready to pull out every last strand of hair until she told me the answer.

She rolled her eyes. "Do I look like your teacher? Figure it out yourself."

Robin snarled at her. "Can I kill you in a dream?"

"Wanna find out? I can try to kill you and you can try to kill me," she snapped.

I stepped between the two, pushing Robin away as I faced Zelena. The last thing I wanted to test was if injuries inflicted in the dreamscape could show up in the waking world. "Please just tell me so we can all go back to our own beds."

"Make me," Zelena said, approaching me.

"NO!" Emma's little voice cried out before Zelena was flung clear across the room. I turned to find her still in Robin's arms, her little hand stretched out. "Bad!"

Zelena picked herself up, wincing in pain. "You're just going to let that brat do this to me?"

"You got taken down by a toddler, Zelena. Deal with it," I replied, shaken by how powerful Emma appeared to be. Yet it gave us the upper hand. "Now, do you want me to unleash Emma on you again or will you tell me how to end this?"

"I don't think she knows," Robin said, giving her a strange look. "It might just be something that happens and she can't explain."

Zelena started to turn red and I swore steam was going to come out of her ears like some cartoon. "I know what I'm doing. I can control my magic."

"Then end this!" he demanded. "Prove me wrong!"

She stomped her foot before yelling. "Fine! I don't know how to end this! Happy?"

"Yes, actually," Robin admitted, smiling as he continued to bounce a fussy Emma.

I rolled my eyes, close to my own boiling point. Or perhaps the heat flooding me was a spike in my fever. Either way, I needed this to end. "I'm not. Because we don't know how to end this."

Emma raised her hand and waved it. "Bye-bye."

Zelena's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to say something, but she disappeared in a puff of white smoke. Robin and I stared in shock before turning to Emma. "I guess that solved that," I said.

"Yes, it does," Robin replied, eyes as wide as mine. "Though how do we get out of there? Does Emma just poof us out too?"

"Let's see what she has to say," I said, placing my hand on her back. I waited for her to talk with me using our telepathic link. She had to be able to do something to help us, given how powerful she was.

Emma sent Bad Lady away, Mama, she told me. She grinned at me, proud of herself. Now just Emma, Papa and Mama.

"Yes, and we're glad you sent the Bad Lady away, but can you wake all of us up? Please, sweetheart?"

Emma wants to spend time with Mama and Papa. Emma not sick here. She pouted, curling against Robin.

I sighed, understanding where she was coming from. It was a nice change of pace to be able to breath easily and not feel like I was ready to collapse at every moment. Yet I also knew this wasn't the restorative rest we all needed to fight the cold and had to convince her it was better to wake up. "I know, Princess, but we need to wake up. We all need more medicine and Papa needs to take care of Rachel and Roland too. So can you please end the dream?"

Emma's eyes filled with tears. Mama and Papa don't want to spend time with Emma?

"Oh, Princess, we do," I told her, wiping away a tear. My heart nearly broke as I wondered how much she remembered of her early life, of being abandoned twice over. "We just want to do it awake. Please?"

"Please, Princess? We can have more fun awake then here," Robin pleaded with her. I held my breath, waiting for her response.

"Well, well, she certainly is one powerful toddler. I didn't imagine she would be able to handle mind connections at this age," the Dark One said from behind us.

I tensed up as Robin glared at him, holding Emma closer. I pressed my hand to her back. "Please tell me he's not really here," I whispered.

"Unfortunately, I'm staring right at him," he replied, teeth clenched. "Take Emma. I'll deal with him."

"No need to do anything, I'm not here to hurt you," he insisted. I turned around at last, finding him standing in the middle of the nursery. He didn't have the cane he favored in Storybrooke but he looked human, as opposed to the golden color his skin held in the Enchanted Forest.

I squared my shoulders, ready to deal with this new nuisance keeping me from my rest. "Why are you here? How did you get inside our mind connection?"

"I'm the Dark One," he reminded me. "I can do whatever I want."

"Except leave the town to find your son," I shot back.

He scowled at me. "Do you want my help or not?"

"Your help always comes with a price," Robin said. "What would we have to do?"

"Bring the Princess to me." The Dark One pointed to Emma, smiling. "I'm quite intrigued by her magic."

Robin clutched her closer and I shook my head. "No. You are staying far, far away from her."

"You see how powerful she is. She already bested Zelena and she's not speaking in full sentences yet. Can you imagine what she can do with the proper guidance? She could be unstoppable," he said, coming closer.

I held up my hand. "You are coming nowhere near her. I will not let you corrupt this little girl. She has white magic and I doubt you know anything of that. So end this and leave us be. And if you try to come near Emma, you will answer to me. Understand?"

His eyes turned cold as he nodded. "Just be careful who you threaten, dearie. You're not as powerful as you might think."

With a flick of his hand, we were engulfed in darkness and hurtled back toward the waking world.

I rocked Emma in the nursery, holding her close as I stroked her curls. She was still wheezing against my neck and I felt her body shudder with each breath. However, her fever had broken, which I knew was a good sign. She would get better soon enough.

Part of me knew I should go back to bed and focus on getting better as well. I knew I needed my rest—it was why I had wanted to get out of dreamscape. Yet my encounter with the Dark One left me too shaken to do that. Fear gripped me as I worried about what he would do with Emma. She was a sweet baby who had had enough drama in her short life. He was a nightmare she did not need nor deserve.

We had to protect her with everything we had. Robin and I owed it to Snow and Charming, who trusted us with their daughter. More importantly, we owed it to Emma, who was just as much our daughter as theirs. Nothing would harm her.

I kissed her forehead, relieved once again it was cool to the touch. "I won't let him get to you, sweetheart. Mama promises."

"I won't let him get to either of you," Robin said, standing in the doorway. "I may not have magic but he would be foolish to cross me."

Smiling at him, I nodded before it faltered. Thoughts of Emma's other father filled my mind. We were stronger together, I knew. It had always been so. "We should tell Charming about this. He'll want to protect Emma too. And with all of us working to keep her safe…"

"The Dark One doesn't stand a chance." Robin knelt in front of me, cupping my cheek. We were on the same page and I felt better about that. "Everything is going to be okay, Regina. You'll see."

I tried to be confident in his words but part of me worried that I had just sent Emma on a collision course with Zelena and the Dark One.

A/N: I had planned for this to be up last week but then I did some heavy edits on it. There was a lot I ended up cutting because I felt it stopped the story. Maybe one day I'll publish the scenes on my tumblr.

This chapter is dedicated to Georgina "Gina" Callander, a victim of the Mancester bombing and a fellow Oncer. I never got to meet her or interact with her, but that doesn't matter. She was a member of our fandom family and we all feel her loss. Rest in peace, Gina.

-Mac